No ReRoute for Iditarod 53

It's the Southern Route for Iditarod after all!

After a winter that was more premature spring break-up than winter that saw races postpone and cancel, the Iditarod held out hope that all things would be a go. The race announced earlier in January they would make a final decision and announce February 3 of their final decision.

In true ITC fasion, however, they announced earlier - and after another musher's kennel had already spilled the beans Friday.

The "Southern Route" is the route traditionally run in Odd years. Called the Southern route because of where it enters the Yukon River, and trades off every other year with the Northern Route so as to ensure more Alaska Villages get a chance to host the Last Great Race.

"The Iditarod Trail Committee (ITC) is pleased to announce that after extensive trail flyovers, on-the-ground reports from snow machiners and information from Checkpoint communities," the race wrote, "the current weather conditions will allow for the race to run the Southern Route as originally planned."

There are still some concerns for areas that have little to no snow. The Willow area is nearly without and the Willow Community Winter Carnival canceled all sled dog events this past week due to no trail. "There may be some course modifications necessary, including the Official Restart of the race depending on snow coverage of the traditional Willow Lake start," wrote the ITC. 

This would not be the first time they've had to move the restart from Willow Lake in recent years. During the 2021 Iditarod Race that ran its historic Gold Trail Loop route, they moved the start and finish to Deshka Landing. The Iron Dog announced earlier this month it planned to take its traditional course starting off from Big Lake as they head out toward Nome. 

No matter where the race starts from the Iditarod assures fans and mushers alike that no major reroutes would have to take place if the Restart does not take place from Willow Lake but instead somewhere close by.

Even with no snow in Anchorage, the race still plans to hold the Ceremonial Start from its traditional Downtown Anchorage location. In 2016 when snow was late to appear in Alaska's largest city, the race truncated their traditional 11 mile Ceremonial Start to 3 miles. Not ideal, but there was still plenty of hype and action in those three miles.

The Ceremonial Start is set for 10am on March 1 with the ReStart to follow the next day at 2pm.

Thoughts on the early announcement? Excited? Skeptical? Comment below!

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Mushing community mourns the loss of Alaskan Balladier

Photo courtesy of "Alaska Bob" Parsons.

James Varsos, better known as Hobo Jim, passed away after a short battle with pancreatic cancer on the morning of October 5. His wife of 42 years was by his side and confirmed the singer's passing in a statement to Alaskan media on Wednesday. Hobo Jim was 68 when he died.

Hobo - as he's lovingly called by friends and fans alike - moved to Alaska in 1972 and immediately fell in love. The singer-songwriter wrote songs of the Alaskan way of life from commercial fishing, to mushing, and off grid life. His songs endeared him to Alaskans and in the early 80s he was given the official title of Alaska's Balladier. 

Varsos and his wife Cyndi settled and raised their family near Soldotna, Alaska (a town on the Kenai Peninsula). His homesteading life inspired many Hobo Jim classics, and many were inspired by his love for his devoted partner. He didn't just write for himself, several well known singers throughout the decades recorded songs he wrote (including Country Legend George Jones). 

The song that solidified Hobo Jim's legendary status came in 1982 when he released the famed Iditarod Trail song which quickly became the official song of the Last Great Race. What was once a "bar song" is now sung in classrooms around the country (if not the world). The catchy polka inspired hit both inspires and haunts those that hear it (mainly because it's an earworm rivaled only by Disneyland's It's a Small World"). 

Hobo Jim would write other memorable mushing songs including Redington's Run which he wrote in tribute to his friend and Iditarod founder Joe Redington Sr. after the musher passed in 2002. Hobo's classic "Wild and Free" was the inspiration for Yukon Quest Champion Brent Sass's kennel (known as, what else, the Wilde and Free Mushing). Hobo Jim was often seen playing concerts benefiting the different races and kennels. 

Varsos announced September 18 that he was diagnosed with end-stage cancer and doctors had given him 3-6 months to live. The singer would pass just 17 days later, a shock to most every one. Family, friends, and fans all took to social media in the days leading up to his passing sharing favorite memories and songs along with encouragement and love. Following the news of his death, the tributes continued. The mushing community was no exception as the emotions and tributes poured out from kennels all over Alaska. 

Hobo Jim left one final message on his facebook at the end of September. 

When Varsos announced his cancer diagnosis friends rallied and started a GoFundMe to support the singer and his wife. Their goal was $75,000 and they had just over $51,000 raised at the time of the singer's passing. They've chosen to continue to raise funds to help Cyndi Varsos, if you would like to contribute you can find the GoFundMe link here.

Do you have any fond memories of Hobo Jim? Favorite song? Share below.